Everyone Needs Anchovies for Christmas

Reading all of my radio show listeners' holiday traditions has been so interesting--especially the ones that are vastly different than mine. The following is a Sicilian tradition--and there is a great recipe at the end.

From Chris:
Growing up in an Italian house (mom from Naples, dad from Sicily) we celebrated the Feast of the Seven Fishes. This is not a Catholic tradition but an Italian one; yet its only celebrated in central Italy, near Rome and down through Sicily. The Seven represents the Seven Virtures (faith, hope, charity, temperance, prudence, fortitude and justice).

In our home the tradition was Anchovies, Baccala (dry, salty fish) Shrimp, Calamari & Whitefish. I'm missing two. My mom passed 10 years ago and since the kids are grown, I had to modify or Eddy would be eating fish until the following year! But we do abstain from meat for that day.
(from Pat: I researched the fish for this feast and the most common are: Baccala, Calamari, Shrimp, Clams, Crab, Whitefish, and Mussels/Oysters)

Dessert on that day is only Struffoli. Fried Dough that is dredged in honey (nothing like a zappola or funnel cake) These are small round balls that are hand rolled and extremely addicting.

Recipe for Struffoli:
This is a receipe as it was given to me.
4 C flour 1/2 t Salt 3 T Baking Powder2 T unsalted Butter (room temp) 6 Eggs (room temp) Oil for Frying Honey
Non-Peril candies

Mix all dry ingredients, cut in butter with your hands. Guess I should have said, wash hands first! Make a well and add eggs one at a time and mix well. (Still with hands...its messy but when you use the mixer they come out hard). Knead on floured board for about 10 minutes. Once mixed, cut into 4 sections and work with one section at a time. Place unused portion in a dish and cover with damp paper towel until ready to use.

Pinch off pieces of dough and roll in palm of hand. (About the size of a chick pea) Once two portions are used, fry in oil (not olive) until golden. Remove from heat, pat in paper towels and let sit in collander. Hint: Do not fill the fry pan, these will expand.

After your fried those two batches, discard oil and start the next two. When all are completed, put approximately 2 Cups of honey in a sauce pan and heat. Once heated pour over Struffoli and stir well coating all. Sprinkle non-perils (little balls) over. Form into Christmas trees...

Fact: I usually can't form because everyone is standing around waiting to devour these things but the truth is, I cant make them stand. They fall. I don't know what she did different. Over the years I add a bit more butter and 2 T of sugar. I use Danish Butter when I make these only because I have it on hand from Christmas Baking. AND... use the more expensive honey.

Enjoy ya'll!!